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Eight contenders, one crown
Why the Candidates Remains the Toughest Tournament in Chess In the world of chess, there are tournaments that produce beautiful games, shocking upsets, and brilliant victories. And then there are events where the stakes are not just prestige, but the very opportunity to enter history. That is exactly what the Candidates remains — the Candidates […]
Read articleFreestyle Chess 2026: Is Chess960 Changing the Future of Chess?
Freestyle Chess in 2026: Is Chess960 Changing the Future of Professional Chess? Not long ago, Chess960 still remained for many a curious alternative to classical chess: a format that people respected and discussed, yet still kept somewhat apart from the main stage of the chess world. In 2026, that situation changed sharply. After the agreement […]
Read articleKoneru calls for postponing the FIDE Candidates Tournaments
“There Is No Point in Taking Risks.” Koneru Calls for the Candidates Tournaments to Be Moved from Cyprus Sometimes even the most prestigious tournament suddenly stops being only about chess. Instead of openings, preparation, and favorites, the spotlight shifts to safety, logistics, and the main question: is it worth holding the event in the same […]
Read articleIs it possible to become a strong chess player if you start late?
Can You Become a Strong Chess Player If You Start Late? This is one of the most common and most painful questions in chess. Adults who have only recently discovered the game ask it. Parents ask it when they worry that their child started “not at five years old, but too late.” People who already […]
Read articleWhy do children progress faster in chess than adults?
Why Children Progress Faster in Chess Than Adults Many adults who come to chess notice one thing rather quickly: children learn this game astonishingly fast. What may take an adult months, a child can sometimes grasp in a matter of weeks. A child memorizes opening ideas faster, adapts more easily to new positions, and often […]
Read articleWhy chess has become not only a sport but also a media industry
Why Chess in 2026 Has Become Not Only a Sport, but Also a Media Industry Not long ago, chess for a wide audience was associated primarily with tournaments, ratings, and occasional news about world championship matches. But by 2026, the picture has changed noticeably. Today, chess is no longer just a sport, but a fully […]
Read articleNew opening ideas in chess
New Opening Ideas That Are Changing Modern Chess Theory In chess, very little ever stays truly still. Even openings that were considered thoroughly explored for decades can suddenly start to look different. What was called questionable yesterday becomes fashionable today. And lines that for many years were seen as the gold standard of reliability suddenly […]
Read articleHow much do chess players earn in 2026?
How Much Chess Players Earn in 2026: Prize Money, Streaming, and Sponsors If many people once assumed that a chess player lived only from one tournament to the next, by 2026 that picture has become far more complex and far more interesting. Today, a player’s income is no longer based only on prize money for […]
Read articleChess boom in Africa
Africa’s Chess Boom: New Talents and the Rise of a Continent Not so long ago, Africa was rarely associated with major world chess news. When people spoke about the strongest chess schools, they usually mentioned Europe, Russia, India, China, or the United States. It seemed that the heart of chess life was concentrated there, while […]
Read articleFIDE Candidates Tournament 2026
FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026: Eight Contenders, One Dream In the world of chess, there are tournaments that are simply interesting, and then there are those that shape the future of the entire game. One of the most important events is the FIDE Candidates Tournament. This is where it is decided who will earn the chance […]
Read articleCheckMat Update: You Can Now Add Rivals as Friends
CheckMat has rolled out an update: now you can add opponents as friends and invite them to play Sometimes a single chess game can stay in your memory for a long time. A strong opponent, a tense battle, unexpected moves — and after the game ends, one thought appears: “I’d like to play this player […]
Read articleThe head of FIDE’s Chess for Freedom program visited Georgia.
Head of FIDE’s Chess for Freedom Visits Georgia Chess is entertainment, a sport, brain training, and for some people, a door to a new life. That is why FIDE launched the Chess for Freedom project. Recently, the head of the project visited Georgia. He spoke about Chess for Freedom, met with local chess players, and […]
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